Tag Archives: Luxor

Opening Soon or Big Changes Ahead!

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Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara. Shuttered since 2020, slated to reopen in 2026 after an extensive renovation. The Montecito property marked its centennial on February 6, 2026, exactly 100 years after its grand opening ball. The Beach Road leading to the resort is lined with palm trees, iconic southern California! Plans feature 138 revamped rooms and suites, new bungalow suites with plunge pools, a 150-foot lazy river, a 3,557-square-foot family pool, and an adult pool. Dining: a new Nobu restaurant is part of the extensive renovation plan. A seasoned FS GM has ensconced from another Four Seasons property to pave the Golden Path – waiting for Little Birdies to share more news!

The Arrival: the once very small Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) is planning a major Terminal Improvement Project, featuring a 33,000-square-foot, two-story addition to the existing terminal. The expansion includes enhanced security screening, baggage claim, more seating, and outdoor dining. Construction is expected to begin in 2027. The little café in the tower has closed, a family favorite!

Vesper Bar The Dorchester London

The Dorchester London Many suites have undergone complete refurbishment, I recommend the Garden Suites, connect to five bedrooms!  The penthouse and rooftop pavilion are pending, but Vesper Bar is divine! If you are clever, reserve the exclusive spot in Vesper Bar. Tucked away in The Snug – an intimate 8-seater space, made entirely private by the swish of a tasseled curtain – you’ll enjoy the best of our cocktails and light bites in your own discreet cozy corner.

Vesper Bar The Dorchester London

Mandarin Oriental is expanding into Egypt with a major portfolio of luxury properties, including the upcoming Mandarin Oriental Shepheard, Cairo (expected 2027), along with managing two iconic heritage hotels—Mandarin Oriental Old Cataract, Aswan and Mandarin Oriental Winter Palace, Luxor—plus a luxury Nile cruise launching by July 2027. 

Mandarin Oriental Old Cataract Aswan A historic colonial-era hotel known for hosting Agatha Christie, scheduled for significant renovations and management takeover by 2027. I convinced my guide to let me trot off in a pony cart for a Rye Manhattan at sunset overlooking the Nile.

Mandarin Oriental Winter Palace Luxor A historic 1886 property near the Temple of Luxor, undergoing full restoration. Our VIP clients stayed on their first trip 20 years ago!

All Aboard! The Art of Sleep

Timeless Journeys the Legend Expands: The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (VSOE) offers ultra-luxury overnight Journeys from Paris to Italian destinations including Venice, Verona, Florence, and the Amalfi Coast. Operating from spring through autumn, these 1920s-style trains feature Art Deco cabins, fine dining, and scenic routes through the Alps.

Key 2026 Paris-to-Italy Routes Paris to Venice The classic Journey crossing Switzerland, offering views of the Gotthard route before arriving at Santa Lucia Station.

Paris to Amalfi Coast (New 2026): A new itinerary starting 4 May 2026, featuring a stop in Pompeii and a stay at Caruso, a Belmond Hotel in Ravello.

Paris to Florence (New 2026) Scheduled for September 2026, pairing the train Journey with a stay at Villa San Michele, one of our VV Favorite properties!

Paris to Portofino  Available in October 2026, concluding with a stay at Splendido, A Belmond Hotel. May I say it again? One of our VV Favorite hotels – Belmond does Italy Ottimo!

Paris to Verona: Offers journeys culminating in the historic city of Verona.

Highly Recommend!

A Moorish Dream in Luxor Al Moudira Hotel

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Where I want to go…my end of year Journey to Papua New Guinea concluded with a dramatic cyclone which set me off on a 25 hour schlepp home, my thirst for travel has not diminished one teeny bit!

Travel feeds my soul, a six-week Journey or longer is perfect for me…I build in down time, jet lag feels more manageable and I cover thousands of miles seeking out the newest hotels, guides and exclusive experiences.

On my diary list, a return to Egypt, like Morocco, its raw customs lure me back. Both countries share a complex cultural past woven from a tapestry of history, heritage and in Egypt, historical figures including pharaohs and queens. Known for monumental building projects and political leadership and military campaigns.

A Moorish Dream: Al Moudira Hotel, in Luxor, is calling to me!! In Arabic, Al Moudira is feminine for ‘the boss’, the name workers and artisans gave to Zeina Aboukheir, who in 1999, originally conceived this haven of tranquility. Situated on a lush estate of almost 8 hectares on Luxor’s west bank, Relais & Châteaux, Al Moudira Hotel is in close proximity to the renowned Valley of the Kings. Its spacious guest rooms and suites furnished with an eclectic mix of treasures sourced throughout the Middle East, open onto enchanting courtyards featuring trickling fountains. Beyond the ornate patios, stroll through shady gardens of palm trees, lemon trees and hibiscus toward the marble-clad swimming pool and hammam. Enjoy meals in either the beautiful Ottoman room, in the main courtyard or at the poolside pavilion, prepared using the freshest ingredients from Al Moudira’s own farm. Time slows down, matching the gentle flow of the River Nile.

Only 54 suites, rooms and new Villas on property, on the quieter west bank. No two rooms are the same, the newish Villas designed by Egyptian architect Olivier Sednaoui and a small army of local artisans, built a mini village of Moorish mansions, which feel authentically ancient. One of which, Villa Zeina, was Aboukheir’s home for 22 years, and boasts the hand-painted frescoes that make so many of the hotel’s rooms charmingly unique.

Modern Luxor is also known as the world’s greatest open-air museum. It contains the ruins of the temples of Karnak and Luxor. The Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens, ancient burial grounds, lie nearby – these are where the ritual burials of the Pharaohs took place. To avoid feeling rushed in Luxor, you’ll need at least two days to explore its treasures. 

Although I cruised the Nile to Luxor, I was on board during my visit to the Valley of the Kings. Luxor’s airport is a convenient 40 minutes away.

Nile Travel: Set Nefru, their 37-metre dahabiya, a traditional Nile sailing boat, is moored nearby and ready for your private charter. One of the few early 20th century boats still in service on the Nile, Set Nefru has recently been lovingly restored. The boat now boasts five luxury cabins, is fully crewed and is available as a private charter for long or short cruises.

Egypt: Highly Recommend! More than once!